- 1not doing anything; not active Some animals are inactive during the daytime. politically inactive The volcano has been inactive for 50 years.
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- 2not in use; not working an inactive oil well
- 3having no effect an inactive drug/disease opposite active
NAmE//ˌɪnækˈtɪvət̮i//
noun [uncountable] periods of enforced inactivity and boredom The inactivity of the local government was deplorable.See inactive in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: inactive